Staff describes trip to Harrisburg after nomination‑petition signature challenge; judge said parties should resolve issues

Board members reported a challenge to nomination‑petition signatures that required one person to travel to Harrisburg for a hearing and to file documentation to contest the signatures.

A staff member described the effort as a lengthy, time‑consuming process: staff "stayed up seven hours" and said "it took a village" to arrange travel and paperwork. The staff member said the person who attended the hearing did not receive lunch during the session; the presiding senior judge is quoted in the transcript as saying, "We are not having lunch." The judge also expressed frustration with the lack of progress toward resolving the signature challenges informally and, according to speakers, ordered the parties to try to resolve the issues themselves.

Board members did not describe the court’s final ruling in the meeting discussion; speakers said the judge’s order noted dissatisfaction with how the parties handled attempts to reconcile signatures. No formal board action on the challenge was recorded at the meeting.

The discussion emphasized the workload required to respond to petition challenges and the board’s role in ensuring nomination paperwork meets legal requirements. The board moved to adjourn after routine items.